White rabbits, pinch and a punch...or whatever you usually mumble on the first day of the month. At five just after I came to, made a coffee, did a Sudoku, folded up my washing airing on the curtain rail in the bedroom and at six promptly snuggled down again with George my giraffe until nine this morning. Nothing was on my agenda for today so I'm not dissatisfied with my achievements. Before I went away I bought new tablet which was fantastically reduced but hadn't managed to set much up on it. Now it sports Kindle for the PC and the ones that I've purchased from Amazon are now on it giving me a back up. This is going to be useful since I'd tried to load some of the books on someone else's machine which resulted in abortive copies and now he's borrowed my Kindle and I've no access to Candy Saga....the withdrawal symptoms have started to kick in so he can now have my new one and I can go back to normal...

Peculiar event this morning....I phoned Princess to see how the land lay, it's half term so she's free. The phone kept going off and then returning and suddenly I saw that one of my other friends name and number were on the display so I finished that call and decided to call her back later. I phoned Princess again and caught up with the gossip and firmed up plans for the rest of the week and Sunday, finished the call and called back my other call. She said that she hadn't phoned me and all I could think of was that my ear had pressed against the screen and I'd called her. She said that her phone rang and asked her daughter in law if she had heard...very confusing for her. Anyway...this time we had a conversation and Saturday is party night again. Oh what a social life I have....all these people to see and so little time.

Beautiful day today...I sat out in the garden, toast for breakfast refusing bacon and egg but the Cadbury chocolate cakes are going down rapidly....ah well ...the intention was good. I've been round the garden identifying the plants that I want to dig up and take with me....there's a hypericom with the large yellow flowers, mine in BG only has small ones with red bracts. There's also a couple of small trees, ones a bay and there's another small Japanese maple. So nice and early today....but the photos will have to be on the next post....LN....I've got beans to shell for supper....LN

Falling asleep on the sofa last night, sidled into bed at ten thirty and straight through until six thirty this morning....the sleep of the just. Down for coffee taking care not to step on the stairs that would wake the rest of the house and back to bed to come round with the Outlanders, Clair and Jamie. I'd made arrangements to go shopping with Princess so it was washed and dressed fairly early on but that didn't happen. Toast and marmalade for breakfast followed by yet more coffee and at ten thirty I phoned her to see if she was OK to which she responded she was watching rubbish TV and needed a quick kick up the you know where to get it into gear. She arrived at eleven and off we went.

We couldn't decide whether to go to Lewes or not for an expedition but instead ended up in Paradise Park where there was a coach trip so the shop was heaving. We scanned around for father's day gifts but nothing jumped out at her, we sat for a while on one of the garden furniture displays expecting to get moved along at any minute putting the world to rights. We went to look at the baby rabbits but they'd all been sold but there were some hamsters and it reminded us of the one she had as a girl that used to have its cage in the bathroom. That poor unfortunate seemed to spend hours on its wheel and that's all you could hear at night....we should have had a generator attached to it....

Over to Sainsbury and picked up enough for lunch and we sat in the garden with our ham laden French stick, I had a small pork pie and fell utterly stuffed after a jam and cream filled doughnut. Beautiful day and beautiful company and we covered loads of topics as mother and daughters do. Back home by six and no supper for me. I've just eaten a bunch of grapes and that will do until morning. Tomorrow we're supposed to be catching up with our good friends in Burgess Hill....so the camera will be out then and apologies....I didn't manage any today. LN...Getting nearer to D-Day....LN

It was one of those stupid nights again when I was reading from one to three thirty this morning and then had a fitful night for the rest of it. I think it's the anticipation of going home again. Coffee at seven thirty but I've felt a little jaded for most of the day. Breakfast was half a melon sitting on the patio in the sun followed by toast and marmalade and then it was to horse with the packing. My large back is done and weighs just under the twenty kilograms and the little one seems to be that everything will fit Cinderella....result.

So out this afternoon to our friends in Burgess Hill and she was hospital visiting in Haywards Heath and it's been years since I worked in the town. I didn't remember any of the shops there but managed to get some gel for a stiff shoulder that I seem to have developed and a couple of presents to take back with me. Back to the hospital for the pickup and then to the house and we sat in the garden catching up and updating her on my holiday exploits....we ordered an Indian takeaway which was delivered at six thirty and it's been ages since I had a Chicken Dhansak....in fact years....delicious with big crispy poppadoms.

Home for ten and that camera has been elusive all day so once again I have to apologise. Lunch tomorrow with Princess and family at the local carvery. It looks like my diet will start when I get home and not before. LN....Bed time said Dougal...LN

Seven start so back to normal and the shoulder seems to have responded to the Deep Heat...not so painful today. Coffee to start the day off right and not much activity from the other room until eight thirty by which time I was ready for second cuppa. Breakfast of poached with ham on toast which seemed to set me up for the day except that I was out for lunch at one and wondered if I would have enough space to take in the copious amounts of meat and veg that I knew would be served up. I bathed and washed my hair so that I was fresh for the occasion and at eleven my ex said that he didn't feel too well and took to his bed and at this point my brain shot into gear deciding how to get to the venue not having a car here that I could drive. At twelve I woke him up and had decided that if he wasn't going to make it, I was, and planned to walk down the village, use the undercliff walk and be a tourist taking photos along the way. I set off at twelve fifteen, monitored my time well, used the tunnel to get to the other side of the road and arrived at the pre-arranged time to one and Princess and co were already there. Hugs all round and my grandson is under strict instructions to stop growing...it hurts my neck giving him a hug...

We all settled for the normal sized carvery and I went for treacle sponge and custard for afters and I feel thoroughly stuffed. In fact we all were. Over to Marks and Spencer in one of the trading parks to pick up an order that wasn't available in store and we walked round the little supermarket while we waited for son in law to collect. I was amazed at the prices...a carton of strawberries was priced up at seven pounds and flavoured water at silly prices. The choice was fantastic with sushi available and fat free snacks but I'm just spoiled at home. We maybe don't have the choice but what we have is at a price which doesn't blow a hole in the reserves. So I got dropped off at three thirty, they didn't come in because I wasn't sure of the condition of the patient but the television was on so I realised that there had been a recovery of sorts. I've been sorting the final packing and the laptop that was staying here is now going back so that it can be updated with Windows 7 now that the current program is unsupported.

Six thirty my time...nothing much to do tonight...no supper required and just a pint of two of fizzy water to get the food moving. I've been like a tourist in my own village today. Beautiful weather and lots of tourist, children on bikes and scooters and dogs being exercised. It's a lovely area. LN...One down and one to go before lift off...LN

Another night or morning reading the Kindle at silly o'clock and at three I was ready for the taxi to arrive....twenty four hours early. Why is it that the body swings into operation in advance and I bet I'll feel knacked in the morning. It's been a day of deciding which suitcase things are going in to....the laptop was supposed to go into one of the handbags but it ended up in mine so I'm taking up weightlifting to get into practice for next year....You just can't get the staff these days.

So I got the last of the washing out while the sun was shining and rushed back in the house with it as it started to rain. What was out there is staying here but I wanted it dry before I put it away. I like to leave my bedroom and bathroom ready to move in to. Clean, tidy and shipshape.....I knew I should have gone on a seven day cruise...ten days and you come back with good habits. Princess came round after she had finished her first day back at school....it appears half of the school didn't want to stick to school uniform and she showed me an article in the national press from last year when the boys decided that it was too hot to wear long trousers so they opted for the girls skirts......as you do.

Everything is in the hall waiting for a three thirty taxi, my departure was timed to coincide with my guests departure to mine for his annual BG stay. Hence the ..'Who is going to carry it?' and 'Have you packed so and so?...The flight is at six from Gatwick and destined to arrive all being well at eleven-ish with the two hour time difference. We're staying at the Holiday Inn tomorrow and heading for home on Wednesday. It's going to be so nice to get back to sense and sensibility. Anyway...I' shan't be too late tonight....busy day tomorrow. LN...Need some beauty sleep....LN

So I beat my alarms that I'd set. I'd banged my head twice on the pillow for two a.m and sort of stroked it over the pillow for half past the hour....two twenty five and was able to turn my alarms off in good time. Down for a coffee, taxi arrived at three twenty and on the road for three thirty five. Straightforward journey to the airport but boy how the systems change from one visit to the next. Scanning the boarding card got us in but then we had to self drop the bags which proved fun in itself. Mine was slightly over but was remedied quite quickly, the second one stuck in the channel to take it to the great beyond and returned and asked that the whole process be done again. When the bag was put on the belt it tried to charge us for the entire load so a supervisor was called who had to take us to another operator since he didn't know how to remedy the said problem but eventually...we had a receipt for the second bag.

Over to the next stage and I ended up with items in three trays that went off into the great beyond and I couldn't keep an eye on them. Through the personal scanner and arriving at the baggage reclaim the man told me to pick up the three containers and head for another packing area...Superwoman I am not at four fifteen a.m. so I said that a little assistance would be gratefully received and he obliged. It was heaving at Gatwick this morning.

Slight delay on take off but arrived in good time, taxi to the hotel, checked in, went down to the garage to check that the Beast was still there and turned the engine over for good luck and it started first time. That's my girl. Swam this afternoon for about an hour and into the spa to ease the early start away. Now about to sample the joys of hotel food. We're not heading into Sofia...far too knacked,

Home, sweet home tomorrow....and on with the washing machine......LN ....Reality and sense and sensibility.....LN

Seven a.m. start in a very hot hotel bedroom swimming in a damp bed due to the mattress protector. Don't you just hate it when that happens. Made the coffee and tea, back to bed with the book to wake up properly.

We were on the road by nine thirty deciding not to opt for breakfast in the hotel....we were both full to the gills from last night's supper. We caught the morning traffic to the motorway but after that it was all plain sailing..The only excitement was a three car convoy with flashing lights that blocked both of the lanes, nipped into the garage as if they were looking for someone and then popped out again and shot off still blocking both lanes and off they went into the distance. It did slow down some of the speed merchants though. I decided to take the Asenovgrad road...I love it through the mountains and stopped at a restaurant half way towards Kardjali for an early lunch or late breakfast. Really good and good value...definitely to be recommended.

Kardjali....Kaufland and Lidl to top up reserves and home for around four. My painter had been in and knocked back the lawns for me but nothing had stopped the weeds. I have lots of work to do... Plants watered, pots weeded, washing in and ready to go, lots of visitors this afternoon welcoming me home.....and I suppose I should take my packing apart....outside work was a better proposition.

Gardening on for tomorrow just to get on top of it again and I phoned my painter to say thank you and he's popping round tomorrow. Now for supper...I have a guest so I should jump to I suppose. LN...Off to the kitchen....LN

So I woke at silly o’clock again and ended up reading. It was my own fault….the moon was very bright and I hadn’t drawn the curtains and I knew there were still obstacles from the packing lying around. I didn’t fancy the death defying walk to the window. So light off and down after half an hour or so and managed to stay sleeping until seven and crept down the stair but I didn’t have to bother. There was a gentle snoring from my downstairs bedroom so I went out and had my coffee on the terrace,

At eight the bread van arrived and it was a joy to go down and pay my respects to my Babas. It was hugs all round… I managed to say good morning in Turkish which went down well and I skipped back up the road clutching my uncut loaf, cheesy bread and a banichka for breakfast. Eventually there were signs of like at nine thirty, more coffee and breakfast.

It was a reasonable start to the day…light cloud and a little sun and then it was to horse. My painter came round and I paid my dues for the work he’d done on the garden, my Avatar came round and asked if I had any jam pot lids so that she could bottle fruit and I found her lots from the workshop. I started to weed the garden after lunch but the weather wasn’t with me. A downpour, thunder and lightening stopped play and the fork is still out there ready for tomorrow.

A cooked supper of minced beef in gravy, potatoes, carrots and peas followed by ice-cream…The sun’s just come out again lighting up the hillside with a golden glow and hopefully it seems to have settled.

At the moment there is no internet connection…I’m writing this in word hoping that it comes on later…fingers crossed. Maybe the mast was a casualty of the lightening. LN…We're back...LN

Sorry had to delete yesterday's pickies...they'd thrown the formatting out. I use Image Resizer to get rid of some of the pixels and if you're not careful...it increases the size and you don't know until you post and check...and I didn't...doh!!!

Lovely long sleep....I remembered the curtains and at six thirty I opened up my world and the door to the balcony. ...to a lovely sunny day. It stayed that way until about twelve thirty and it was down hill from there. No rain though, no thunder and lightening so it was a plus. Bacon, eggs and fried bread for breakfast...I know how to treat guests and then out to the garden. I've managed to weed three of them and intend to do more tomorrow but rain is forecast for overnight so we'll see how things turn out.

We had a visit this afternoon that put paid to my gardening which I was pleased about. We sat outside and chewed over the fat and I caught up on news from the area. We had a brief discussion about the UK elections but I don't put my views on my diary...too many people seem to be doing that on FB and it gets quite vitriolic.... I stay away from it.

Sheppard's pie for supper which was the left over mince with a potato topping...also left over from last night so I padded it out with chippies. I'd dearly love to know why new potatoes don't turn a golden brown...I shall have to Google it. A little late tonight. I've been searching for the manual to my cooker....the automatic lighter seems to have given up the ghost after seven years...and when I found the said booklet...no mention of it so that's another thing I have to Google. Lovely sunset last night and so I'm posting the pickies...not even worth venturing forth with the camera tonight. Now down to keep my guest company....LN...Just a couple of things to Google first...LN

So I think it's a weekend of electrical failures. I set the timing device on the boiler when I came back and the next day I had no hot water. Everything seemed to be in order so I thought I screwed it up the first time so made doubly sure setting the time yesterday. So this morning no hot water so ...device not working. That coupled with the cooker ignition switch for the hob not working made sure that a day in Kardjali was necessary.

I woke up at six thirty this morning, grabbed a coffee, pitchfork and wellies and headed out to do a couple of hours gardening before the rest came to life. I more or less finished half way down the long wall and uncovered flowering shrubs that I'd half forgotten about. I knew they were there just didn't know when they'd burst forth. Went in at eight thirty and made a cooked breakfast, my Avatar arrived with a bowl of home made yogurt that I was grateful for and into the car by just after ten and heading for the big city. I've confirmed the telephone number of the man that can with my cooker, bought a new timer, picked up some more USB connectors and cables, a little bit of shopping for essentials like food and back home for three thirty...both hungry as you like or don't like. French stick, ham and mayo for a late lunch and one of us is still sleeping it off and it's not me.

Supper is in. Pork chops with barbecue sauce with potato wedges and that should be ready in about twenty minutes. Gardening tomorrow yet again and just to confirm...the new timer is working. LN ...So much to do and so little time....LN

I ached this morning after yesterdays onslaught on the garden but it was back to it with a vengeance. I woke at six thirty, grabbed a coffee and went back to bed with the Kindle. It was a good start to the day, clouded over this afternoon and went very cold but I did managed to get the washing dry before a few spots of rain dropped on my parade.

I was out potting up my new Hypericom brought over from England and I heard a noise out towards the road. As usual...they have to be investigated and there is my Avatar filling her wheelbarrow with the road gravel left over from the winter. I joked with her telling her that it was theft and then Haciber came down to find out what was going on so we stood and had a laugh about it. I have ballast left over from my building work but she didn't want that...she was quite happy with her pickings.

As for the rest of the day...cooked breakfast and while I was cooking it the phone went and my lovely Ms D or S was in Djebel with the little one and asked if she could pop round to say welcome back. She arrived around ten, the little one is not so little and lovely so I had my granny cuddles but in the lounge....she's not a babe for the sunlight...much too fair. I caught up on a little of the gossip...not that there's much and it's better that way and she was on her way by eleven thirty. I settled back into the garden clearing weeds, issued instructions to my guest on the design for the garden edgings that needed to be constructed and one's already finished, painted with old engine oil and ready to be placed.The vegetable garden is weeded and dug over,,,I should get it finished by the middle of this week and it'll probably be time to start again if the weather stays like this...warm and with the odd patches of rain.

Head down for a while this afternoon, woke up cold so lit the fire and there's a cosy glow around the house. The chicken is in for supper but it won't be a full roast....jacket potatoes will fill the bill for tonight....we finished off the French stick for lunch. So just about seven thirty my time...chicken ready..potatoes underway, a book at bath time to ease out the aches and bed...LN...Another day gone...LN

Oh what a good and rewarding day. My internal alarm kicked in at six, down for coffee and out for six five and into the garden by six twenty. I don't hang around on my hillside and neither do the weeds...They were on their way out. Thy'd had three weeks of doing their own thing and now I was back. The top garden had been hit considerably and I'm not sure why except that I live next to a field and the new wall that I'd planted out was hidden by three foot tall things. Now they are gone, I've found tall old fashioned marigolds, forsythia, weigeia, firethawn that looks like it's flowered already, tobacco plants and small marigolds.

Semile my sheep farmer came round to view the work that his worker had done on the lane, trying to stop the cows getting into my neighbours' gardens. More reinforcements appeared to be needed,,,the boy was back with Semile's brother armed with equipment to cut the bush that they use to cow proof everything. I remembered the fun I used to have getting rid of the bastard bovines from my garden and the advice from the farmer was to strengthen my boundaries. It appears that he can't use the same advice on my neighbours...they're out in force. The unfortunate thing is he's blocked the lane and the access to the field so the old men that used to walk to the mosque might be climbing my wall or trying to break through....Friday should be interesting...

Breakfast of poached egg and ham on toast.....I washed up and was out there continuing with my task for today and I achieved it. Weeds cleared from my grave garden and the area strimmed...Does that feel good? You betcha.....Cold chicken for lunch and since there's not much interest in food....my kitchen is there for the use of...I'm settling for roasted peanuts. Fence cladding tomorrow so that my kiwi's have something to hang on to...they appear to be wafting in the breeze and they need help to climb up into the plum trees. LN...I'm going to try to catch Eggheads...LN

Five thirty start and it's getting worse by the day. I managed a bath last night but there was so little hot water that I was in and out in quicksticks. hair was washed as well. I really didn't fancy putting my head under the bath tap to wash out the shampoo...still I managed....it's in just as bad state as it was yesterday...it's been a scorcher and I've been sweating my socks off all day...weeding.

It started off well. I met my painter as I was heading down to the bread van and he was off to work for my Avatar's nephew. The ladies were out in force...I got brown and white bread and asked if he had any eggs which he did. Emula's mother also wanted eggs and it transpired that he only had eleven. I'd asked for ten so I suggested that we split it...five or me and six for her...I can easily get some when I'm shopping. We joked about the fact that they always say that my Turkish trousers are pyjamas so I insulted them by telling them that they were all wearing there pyjamas...it caused a giggle anyway.

Bacon and egg for breakfast and then it was attaching the wire mesh to the long wall so that the kiwi can become established. I managed to unwind it from the old support ...very carefully ad now it's pegged up on the new. I set too with the weeding once again and I'm more or less there. The lawn is more or less finished and the garden is looking good...I'm going to give my ladies lessons in Crown bowling and establish a bowling club in the little house....At last I have a use for it.... More Nato activity and there was a tremendous boom as one of them went through the sound barrier....fair made the garden tremble....and must be costing a fortune...

Afternoon naps were the order of the day but it was back to it when the heat had gone out of the sun. I came in at seven thirty, supper was a mishmash of the rest of the chicken from Sunday made into a risotto with a dash of curry powder. Not bad...at least I had jars of lime pickle and mango chutney to enhance the flavour.

So tomorrow we might have one last day and then find something to do on Thursday. The weather looks like it's settled down and it's wall to wall sunshine for the rest and all of next week....about time to. Nothing written in stone for tomorrow...I'll see how I feel and then it might just be down tools and head out. It's been a gruelling week but as I said...nearly there. LN...Now for five minutes on the terrace in the cool of the day....LN

It was a five thirty start for me but I forced myself to stay there until six thirty. I sat at the desk with the intention of catching up on a few things and noticed a woodpecker on my special fir tree. I tried to take photos through the glass but it proved difficult so I gently opened the fly screen on to my balcony and managed to get on to my bench without it flying away. It made its way along the trunk and eventually ended up in the canopy and blow me down, another one started down at the bottom, worked its way to the top and ended up on my clothes prop pecking its way along that. Beautiful.... I headed downstairs to grab a coffee and heard a kettle going.....for once I had company in the morning. So we both headed out to the terrace and sat with our respective beverages and I managed tomatoes on toast for breakfast, he headed outside to carry on with the lawn and I went back on the computer to waste and little time. Stripped the guest bed and washed the sheets...it was a beautiful day and they were dry in quicksticks.

My Avatar arrived wanting a little chat. She told me that her son had been down to Greece and had returned very pink and had gone to the doctors for some creme. We sat for a while in the garden and I walked her to the gate and noticed my painter in her garden so I went back with her thinking that he was working there. I looked towards the garage and there's son being covered in lotion from the doctor by my painter and I came back with the funny that I was cold and wanted to warm my hands. There was laughter in the air or was it hysteria....I'm really not sure...

Back to the garden...the lilac and forsythia have both had severe haircuts but it's opened up the garden. I have a bonfire going with the trimmings and I've dug out the weeds from the rest of the long wall. Good work but knackering. Fish finger sandwiches for supper with mayo...we know how to live gourmet style. Washing up done, boiler on for respective showers. Tomorrow...Zlatograd and swimming if the weather improves...we have dark clouds tonight that weren't part of Accuweather's predictions. Situation normal...LN...Better get cossie out...LN

Five thirty start and my had it bucketed it down last night. Good for the garden and the plant pots but it was rapidly putting pay to our visit to Zlatograd and a day by the pool. I'd mentally put it on hold but it was up for discussion but the sun came up but it rapidly clouded over. The cushions from the outside benches and chairs were put out to dry and mine were hung from the balcony. At least the bench dried pretty quickly so that I could get my morning blast of good clean air.

We started to circulate around eight and I trotted off to visit my Avatar around eight thirty to take her dish back and as I approached her house there was a shout from my other neighbour's garden. Avatar was out visiting already...apparently her son had had a pretty rough night due to his sunburn. We sat in the garden for a while and I headed home and saw a gigantic beetle marching along o the concrete in front of the garage, You could almost hear it. and blow me, as I sat on the terrace, another one marched towards the honeysuckle. It must be the season for them. Into the kitchen and breakfast was baked beans on toast....first for a while. Straight out to the garden to check on the bonfire and it was still going and is still going. 'Please send reinforcements and the Indians came over the hill'.....I carried on with the weeding of the bottom garden and it's been a day of stop and start. Late lunch of eggs mayo and were both still stuffed to the gills....so nothing on the agenda kitchen-wise tonight...maybe later. It's settled down into a very pleasant evening and is about twenty seven in the house as we speak. I'll wait and see what the weather holds for tomorrow before we made any decisions but on Saturday we are off to Greece....supposedly to rather large market. LN....Best take lots of carrier bags with me....and Euro....LN

So as I lay down my little head on the pillow last night there was a terrific humming of something that seemed quite close so I put the bedside light and the main bedroom light on to see if I could see it. Now having the fly screens not much can get in from the outside but I came to the conclusion that it was something big trying to get in bashing itself against the fly screen and since the door to the terrace was open, it thought it seemed a nice place to be.....wrong. Out with the insect spray and I sprayed the screen, the window area just in case and stuck my head under the light duvet. If it was in...no chance of it getting me....and it didn't and no sign of dead bodies this morning at seven.

Bacon for breakfast since I'd forgotten there were no eggs and the bread man had been and gone, into the car for ten thirty and decided to head to Kardjali for a few staples like butter and more bacon. Of course no visit to Kardjali can be made without the compulsory stops at the cheapy shops which proved quite successful, I paid my M-Tel bill, put some more money on my mobile and bought a couple of long cotton shirts that will do for sleeping in now that the temperature is rising. We stopped off for doner kebabs, on to Kaufland and finished off at Lidl where I was seduced into buying three very large pots of very smelly lilies for half price. The trouble with Lidl is...they don't know how to look after their plants...they were all crying out for a drink. Stopped off in Djebel at my students mother's shop to say 'hello' now I'm back and we had a little catch up. Back home, unpacked and watered the lilies, they're sitting on the terrace and the perfume is amazing and filling the house. You either love them or hate them.

So delivered tomatoes to my Avatar, came back, had a coffee, did a load of washing, checked out the bonfire and remembered that I'd bought a very large sticky cake to share with my neighbours. I wrapped up a couple of slices and saw my Avatar on the wrong end of a wheel barrow full of gravel so I got her to hold the cake, I picked up the wheel barrow and she was shouting after me to put it down and I did....at her gate. On the way I saw one of my other neighbours so back at the house I cut another piece of cake and delivered it to the garden next to my house where she was working. Can't leave anyone out here....

Ham sandwiches for supper....we've eaten cooked twice today. Early tomorrow morning...off to Greece....passports and euro at the ready. LN...Restful day away from the garden...LN

So last night I watched Monty Donn, went to bed tired but couldn't sleep...you know how it is. Ten minutes to six came round pretty quickly so it was kettle on, coffee and a pot of tea made and a cup delivered so that we could be out in the car for just after seven. I made breakfast of bacon and eggs and we were ready for the off at five past seven and arrived to out destination on the dot. Change of car and we were on the new road to Greece in quicksticks and heading for the market. It was a good journey down there and we queued for about twenty minutes before out passports were scrutinised firstly by the Bulgarians and secondly by the Greeks and allowed in. We parked up by the market, there were lots of fruit and vegetable stalls, material for furnishings,clothes for all shapes and sizes,livestock and fish stalls. I bought apricots, a chicken ornament and a couple of garden shrubs and I haven't a clue what they are but was assured that they were OK left out int he winter. I was amazed...lot of people spoke English and most were working with smiles on their faces...

Shopping done we sat for a coffee and then set off for Xanti stopping off at the church on the lake which I'd never been to before. Back to a shopping complex where I earmarked a couple of new sofas, I took photos of the items and labels to see if they would fit in the lounge. I might very well be on to a winner and if so...a man and a van and they'll be mine. The weather changed as we headed towards the border and the heavens opened. The queue to get back into Bulgaria this time was long...it took about an hour to reach the checkpoint. We were asked where we'd been by the Greek guy and no questions were forthcoming from the Bulgarian...We were home safe and dry. Meanwhile we were all a little hungry because of the long wait, too late for lunch and too early for the evening menu so we ended up in the supermarket and made sandwiches while we viewed the building work at the house that's being renovated...Good stuff.

Home for seven more or less...I had visitations from my Avatar and another neighbour asking where I'd been hiding, Emula came round for a chat and now I'm waiting for chicken legs to finish in the oven and that will be supper done and dusted. Very pleasant day...one day a month will be fine but the plan has to be to pick a day when the rest of the tourists aren't at the crossing point to avoid the hanging around. LN...Tired but content...LN

So I'm sending out thoughts today for my father, father in law and all fathers on your day. I have fond memories of my own and if I was drinking I'd raise a glass so it's an imaginary one. His life wasn't easy...he was a miner for many years, saved peoples lives when there were accidents, had his fair share of bashes on the head and had his life curtailed somewhat by the miner's lung disease. Never grumbled much, stoic feller. As for my father in law....a lovely man, a dentist with a twinkle that could be misconstrued by some. I was blessed.

As for the rest of my day. I had a very restless night and this cold has really taken hold. I managed to cook breakfast but it's been downhill for the rest of the day. I planted up some of the zinnia and carnations and got them watered...this was totally unnecessary..the dark clouds rolled over and we've had a tremendous downpour which at times could have been hail. It was tools away by three, I've dosed myself up with aspirin all day, honey and blackcurrant jam this afternoon and stayed horizontal on the sofa. As my guest added, he has not known me to be ill for years...I normally work my way through it. Not today though...I'm wondering if I've knocked myself out with the gardening and my body has rebelled. Anyway...tomorrow is another day....I'm now off to bed. LN...Fingers crossed for a reasonable night....LN

Dreadful night, coughing and spluttering and I've slept for most of the day on and off. Great company I've been. I don't mind a cold but I hate it when your bones ache, your head is at bursting point every time you cough and your eyes don't even focus to read...or you can't be bothered to read.

As for the weather...I think it came out in sympathy. We didn't see the mountains until about eleven, and then the rain really came down...it cleared up briefly, rained again, more clouds on the hills and now it appears to have settled down with light cloud and wind. Hasn't anyone mentioned to him up there that it's June and I think my guest would be much better off at home weather wise....it was a heatwave yesterday.

I've managed to get up and cook supper. I woke up at five this afternoon dreaming of potatoes so whether it was my body telling me that I should eat or not I'm not sure. I had spicy sausage in the fridge so into the pan with it and some onions and potatoes on to boil and supper was made and they's enough potato for fry-up tomorrow morning. The brain is coming into action again...one and a half days down and I'm back.

Starlings are jockeying for position on the electricity wires. They're so funny to watch. One flies over to sit by the next one and then they move up and yet another seems to be playing leap frog over all of them to the annoyance of the others....and I've just gone out on to the balcony to take the pickie and they all flew away. Ah well. LN...Normal service might be resumed tomorrow....LN

Shite night again...too much sleep yesterday and at three this morning my nose was bunged up so I was down for a home made honey and blackcurrant drink with a disposable aspirin floating on the top. It did the trick...I woke up at seven and went off again and was woken up just before nine by the bread van man tooting his horn. I needed white bread but it could wait...my morning was going to be slow.

I got washed and dressed, decided to make a day of it despite my frailty and set to by getting rid of the rubbish from the house and from the tree sawing and trimming over the last few days. There was quite a pile but done and dusted by eleven. Found a very dry looking plant so decided to give it a good drink and a new home and it's looking better already. Unfortunately the one that I dug out to rehouse it needed finding a place as well so that's now under the wall just below the acacia...now keep up. So I kept the fire going most of the day and it's still puffing now...I appear to have shaken off the cold, my chest is still aching and I'm coughing like a dingbat but needs as needs must. I'm sure being out in the fresh air...all be it tinged with smoke has done the trick.

Supper is the a risotto made out of the remains of the chicken from a few days ago with curry powder added. It save cooking in two pans and I'm sensing that it's ready. Tomorrow I shall be going somewhere...it's yet to be decided and as the weather is looking OK...it might be Haskovo...I'm needing a new starter cable for the lawn mower....technology...it lets us all down. And now for my only meal of the day...I've been starving a cold...LN...Going to make up for it...LN

Lousy night again ...I just hate coughs and colds. Eventually I arose from my virtuous couch and was up and at 'em for six thirty and watched the sun come up which was lovely to see after the starts we've had lately....and it did us proud....it topped it this afternoon at thirty three degrees.

So what did we get up to...load of washing in and out by nine, I phoned the Librarian and no reply and about ten minutes later she appeared at the gate. Coffee cups out. It appears she phoned me this morning ...she was on her way to Djebel to deliver her neighbours and called on the way back. It was good to see her. We sat in the shade on the little house terrace and caught up. I warned her that it was really a 'no fly zone', we were bug infected and on her own head be it. She waved it off and fingers crossed that I was no longer infectious. She stayed around until eleven thirtyish and I have a list of plants that she wants me to take cutting from and I saw her off the premises handing her a packet for Mrs D of S asking her to deliver it on her way home. I again didn't want to risk the little one catching this horrible lurgy.

So armed with pickies of the lawn mower, we set sail via the garage for Haskovo. One of my back tyres needed some air in it and it was still OK when we got home so no issues with it. We arrived at the DIY store that I got the mower from and into the parts and repairs section and as per normal....not much help about. We handed over the old throttle cable and asked if they kept one in stock and there was a decided 'no' so I asked if he could order two for me and have them dispatched via the courier service. He went to his computer, found the part number, asked for my telephone number so I found out one of my cards, wrote my address on the back and fingers crossed...they might be with me tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest....and the best part is...you pay the courier not the store. Over to the market garden and I picked up several plants, spend about thirty lev and felt I've done well so I know what I'm up to tomorrow.

Back to Kardjali and to the chicken restaurant in the market for chicken soup and a whole chicken,salad and chippies and part of it sitting in my fridge tonight....eyes bigger than and all that. Home for about five thirty wondering where the day has gone...one dress for the little one and one for the big one...and Mrs D of S sent a pickie of the little one wearing it...beautiful....and I'm still waiting for the other.

Remsie came round for a chat tonight...she'd been to Turkey and hadn't seen me since I'd been back. I sent her off with a lavender bag...she was complaining that she couldn't sleep so it might work it's magic. Sorry this is late....the internet has been off for four hours of so and only just come back on....but better than nothing I suppose. LN...We'll see how efficient the parts department are....LN

It was one before I managed to get off last night...I awoke at three...off again until five thirty and then it was down for coffee, back up on to the terrace and I watched the sun come up. It was a beautiful start to the day...the late sun was quite magnificent but as for the rest of it....hot, thunderstorms from the west, clouds, gale force winds, thunder, rain from the north...more rain from the north and after the sunset it's clouded over again.

Bacon and egg for breakfast and I lingered over the internet and managed to order the spares for my strimmers and more blades. I'd chased round trying to find suppliers so I went on to eBay, entered the serial number of the machine and the parts jumped out at me...will be delivered from Germany and no postage costs....result. I'm lost without one...I keep looking at the bits that need attention and the petrol one is too large for me and if I request that it gets done....it's on somebody else's list. Now on to the garden and planted up some of the new acquisitions from yesterday, turned my attention to the frog garden and finished the weeding on that and moved on to the lounge terrace and was visited by not one but two little lizards. Eventually they came face to face, the big one laid into the little one, the little one shot off over the terrace and into the garden and the big one sauntered off...Territories egh....

Beds stripped and three loads of washing done and dried and beds remade. I moved on to garden under my special tree and cleared out the grass and bindweed and dug up one of the juniper horizontalis that was getting hidden by the cotoneaster...it's sitting in a bucket and will find a home tomorrow. Tools away and then the rain started. Good for the plants but not too good for me. Nothing on the agenda so far for tomorrow...let's see what the weather holds. LN....Monty Don tonight....LN

Six o'clock first wake up, seven thirty second and eventually out of bed just before eight. Again I heard the bread van but I didn't think my pj's would go down a bomb with the ladies so I made do with old bread yet again.

Yet more washing....I think others are hiding it in my basket....my guest got his own breakfast not liking what was on offer so I got on with the gardening and made mine when the kitchen was clear. The bonfire didn't want to play so I left it for later and set to clearing the side new wall garden from weeds discovering that the honeysuckle has developed a life of its own and was going along not up smothering the winter flowering jasmine. Restitution was at hand...I found a very short ladder made by the men for getting over the wall so I painted it with my old engine oil mix and used the lump hammer to bang it in against the wall until the metal fencing goes up. I picked up the honeysuckle and draped it over the said ladder freeing up the jasmine and jobs a guddun. It will do for the time being.

Beautiful day and I spent some of it in the shade reading my book. It was just to hot to be out there. Played on the pc for a while, almost fell asleep on the sofa but my neighbour woke me up by delivering a couple of pancakes. I called my guest from the little house and we sat and had them with yogurt and pine syrup, I was back to the pc, his turn to nod off and the next minute Haciber was round with two more. It must be the day for pancakes and tomorrow we should be having the frothy ones.

Back to the garden at about four and planted up one of my large shrubs from Greece, baby zinnias, tobacco, large zinnias and some of the yellow daisies. Watered them in well, washing in, bonfire raised from the dead, shower, hair washed and we were off to a restaurant in Momchilgrad for supper. I really couldn't be bothered to cook. Off down the back lane to Momchilgrad which take loads of kilometres off the journey. My guest asked why we hadn't been to that restaurant before and I explained that it's all down to the lane being brought into play.

Absolutely fabulous meal for very little money....home for ten thirty...relaxed and ready to put my head down. The only downside with the restaurant is that the pool is not functioning....it was one of our haunts last summer and no one could tell me when it was going to be up and running. More of the same tomorrow with the garden...spade work in the morning and planting late afternoon. LN....Time for bed said Zeberdee...LN

Hot sticky night last night but the food from last night sat very comfortably for a late meal. Seven this morning and I dressed for the bread van fairly early on but it didn't arrive until just before nine. I'd emptied my money pot of all the small coins and he was very grateful for them...everyone seemed to be using notes...it must be pension day. So the order was one unsliced, a cheesy bread and a cheese stuffed pastry but breakfast was yesterday's delivered pancakes heated up in butter and served with pine syrup and yogurt with a little of the cheesy bread to follow. A very civilised breakfast.

The first two children arrived for their sweets at ten thirty this morning and I realised that I didn't have enough if the hordes descended so I was in the car by eleven heading for Djebel. Firstly I went to the supermarket for coffee, bonbons and chocolates, over to my student's mum's shop to deliver one of the boxes of chocolates and I must have stayed there for about an hour. Secondly heading to my other student's home I met her father, asked him to deliver the chocolates but he said that they didn't have any guests despite it being their holiday and I was welcome to go down to the house. Not having seen them since before I went to the UK...it was good to catch up with the family. Finally another visit to the supermarket for a chicken for supper and then home James.

As for the weather...it was a beautiful morning and then the wind got up and the clouds rolled over. Thunder was in the air but only a few rumbles, a couple of spots of rain and that was it but it was very humid. I sat outside reading for a while but by four I was digging up a couple of my beetroot for supper, peeling potatoes and onions and it was in to the oven with all of them, all chunked up to a good size and the chicken in a separate dish. While it was cooking I got the strimmer out and tackled the grass between the house and the front wall and dug over the flower bed. It's now ready to put in some of the plants that are sitting in the veg garden but that's a job for tomorrow unless we find something exciting to do.

So washing up done, not much of a sunset tonight...the clouds appear to be gathering so it's cushions in...just in case. LN...Yet more deliveries of fluffy pancakes....LN

Six start this morning and what a wonderful way to start the day. I was out on the balcony to welcome that red thing that seems to be elusive, coffee on the terrace, a spot of gardening before breakfast, a line of washing and let the day really begin. Cooked for breakfast and it was just as well...it's been so busy in the garden today, a drop in guest for a couple or three hours this afternoon to stop me from my endeavours but it was pleasant doing nothing.

Back to it when he left though and I had a very reluctant bonfire to sort and start....it just didn't want to go. I've dug out the grass from one of the beds down the bottom of the garden and edged it with a couple of old supports that they used for the concrete pillars when building the wall and it needs a step putting in between the two levels that have been created. The alternative is to dig out about two cubic meters of soil to even up the levels and I think I'll settled for the step.

As social secretary I appear to have failed miserably. It was going to be lunch tomorrow with the girls but one didn't want to come out to play so I've moved the day, date, time and place and now it's set for Tuesday, and includes a swimming pool. Much better idea than shopping. Cold chicken for tonight and I'm just about to get some chippies on the go.....easy pickings tonight. More of the same tomorrow please. LN From the duty lobster....LN

Early start again but that's OK. I watered the garden and sat on the terrace enjoying the birds calling to each other. The golden orioles are around and I caught a flash of them as they headed for the last of the cherries, the wagtail is pack hovering the garden, the martins are putting on a beautiful display and the woodpecker is wondering whether is is better to head on to the next site with me being so near....and he did.

So breakfasted on tomatoes on toast and decided that I would go into Djebel and get my tyre fixed. It appears to be still going down. The garage looked at it, found several shards of metal embedded in it and advised that I swapped it out for the one that was taken off the front when I had the new ones fixed. We did the market, had coffee with my favourite restaurant lady who no longer owns the restaurant since her husband is not well and ended up in the soup kitchen for an early lunch. We also noticed the extensive renovations that are taking place at the mosque....the roof is off and most of the interior is trashed with only the minaret standing. Sorry for the rubbish mosque photos...I only had my mobile with me....that'll teach me.

Home for one thirty, I sat outside and managed to do Saturday's Sudoku that I'd printed off and promptly fell asleep on the activity centre on the lounge terrace....so not much activity. I woke up at three thirty and decided that I would take the car back to the garage to have the tyre changed....I'm off to see the Librarian tomorrow and didn't want any blowouts. So back to the garage...stopped off to fill the car up and put some petrol in the can for the lawn mower, sat down to take the photos of the mosque from the phone and write my blog and Remsier appeared with her daughter and grand-daughter to collect the Linden blossom that they dry to make tea so we've just had a 'smartie' party in the garden with the daughter ending up in the tree to get to the higher branches. So I have now to go and make food...the kitchen calls and I need inspiration....not a lot there tonight....here goes. LN...BG corned beef hash sounds about right...LN

Six start but I was pretty slow off the mark managing to get out of bed by six forty five. Out to the garden and got the watering done although there won't be any need tomorrow...it pelted it down this afternoon and everything looks fresh and lovely.

So poached eggs on toast for breakfast, swimming clothes together and there was a slight digression...one of my other neighbours wanted some of the blossoms from the tree to make her tea so we had to get the long loppers out to cut some of the higher branches. That done she was on her way with enough to last her until next year. Into the car by ten and a leisurely drive over to the Librarian's village for ten thirty and it was straight on to the lake swimming pool restaurant hotel for coffee and sun beds. We managed to get there before the masses which was good and got our first swim in before the 'lads' appeared that seem to get more pleasure from jumping in and 'bombing' than actual swimming. Now perhaps I'm showing my age... Mrs D arrived with the little one around twelve, we chatted for a while and then went into the restaurant for lunch but bad marks....no child seat...that needs to go on to the review. It didn't matter, we enjoyed 'passing the parcel', lunch over then back in the pool again. We tried the little one in the water...I think it was too noisy for her and too much activity. It was short lived but that was OK.

The forecast predicted that the clouds would roll in at around three and they were just about right. They seemed to come in from the north east and got steadily worse until the pool attendant closed the pool ordering everyone out. Most of the people cleared the pool area but we stayed for a while, Mrs D of S legged it with the little one which was just as well. The clouds really thickened, the thunder and lightening started so we threw the things into the bag and went under the large umbrellas and watched the rain. So out with the camera and I tried to get the rain drops bouncing off the water and you can just about see it in the pickies.

Dropped off the Librarian in her village and headed down to get some screws from one of the hardware shops in Fotinovo, stopped off to visit a friend who is renovating there and caught up with Bekir for a chat. Home for five, washing done,supper will be pickings since lunch was rather full on and I'm now settling in for Tipping Point since I've not seen it for six weeks or so.

The nice thing about swimming is that you feel really refreshed and gently tired after the exercise. LN...I should sleep well tonight....LN

Lovely start to the morning. I grabbed the camera, sat out on the lounge terrace and watched the garden activity. There was mist on the mountains, the sun was up but there were light clouds shielding me from the heat and I watched the birds at play. The first visitor was a green woodpecker who started on my tree but then realised that there were better pickings to be had on the ground after yesterday's rain. Why give yourself a headache bashing seven bells out of a hard trunk of a tree. It must have been down there for about ten minutes...others came and went but it was pretty determined to protect its territory from the interlopers.

It was late when my guest raised his head and getting on for ten. He said that he'd woken at six but decided to go for the long haul. It might have been me coming down the stairs to start my day. Bacon and egg for breakfast so a good start to the morning, I popped over to see my Avatar and she said that her grand-daughter with the new baby is coming later today from Germany. I'd seen a photo of the baby on the internet so I downloaded it and printed it up for my Avatar, there were almost floods of tears and was insisting that she paid for it so I came back with my usual reply that it would cost her one hundred lev and if she didn't pay me that, I wanted nothing for it. It's our little joke. She did insist that I came back with a portion of her home made banichka which went down well for lunch.

I played around in the garden and didn't see much for my efforts today. It's been mainly weeding, the rain and sun encourages them. After lunch I realised that a siesta was about to unfold so I lay on the sofa with my Kindle and just as I was heading off my guest got the lawnmower out much to my chagrin and what can you say...nothing. Eventually I went off and woke up around five. I've just done another couple of hours in the garden planting up another hypericom that I've managed to grow from a cutting, had another attempt at the bonfire and eventually got it down to ash so I'll start with an empty bin tomorrow.

Lovely evening...it did cloud over and there was a few mumbles and grumbles of thunder this afternoon apparently while I slept but no rain so that hose will have to come out before I get my head down. I'm not really hungry so far tonight...it's very humid and it seems to knock the edge off the hunger pains...might do something later. LN....Eggheads now on the menu....LN

My start to the day was at six again and it was a lovely time to be out on the terrace with a coffee watching the day unfold. The martins were super active and it's almost as if they are encouraging the new baby in the nest to take to the wing. It keeps popping its little head out, calling for its parents and it's backside to poop to keep the nest clean. It's good for me, I'm out with the shovel and putting it on the pot plants...the bottle brush seems to be doing OK with it extra nourishment.

There were several types of butterflies on the lavender and all that was left when I managed to get the camera out were the black and white ones and their name escapes me....I need to get the book out. I was having trouble focusing with the Canon and unfortunately the new Sony only has a small pop up viewfinder for use when the big screen is in the sun. Ah well...I got a few of them. The strimmer came out after that and I tidied up the workshop terrace...the 'jamir' had been moved there while I was in the UK and it had really encouraged the weeds so they'er now back under control at least for the time being. So breakfast this morning was bacon, baked beans and egg....well only one egg...they're on the list for tomorrow. I picked the best part of the day for working....I came in at 10.30 more or less and didn't go out again until four thirty. It was thirty seven degrees in the shade this afternoon...much too hot for working so it was out with the Kindle, down with the eyelids for an hour or so and I felt much better for it.

It was out with the strimmer again when the temperature had dropped a little...but not by much....and the bottom of the garden is looking more in shape than it has before. I did loose several plastic cutters though...some of those weeds were pretty thick....I'll find them next time round.

Chicken and pork is in for supper and the potatoes are just about to come up to the boil. I think I'll be making a barbecue sauce to go over both types of meat....it can always be used up cold if we don't manage it. Kitchen calls....LN...Time to get saucy....LN

Thanks TC...always to be relied on. I did put on FB that it was a Western Tiger Swallowtail but it was taken from an American site....who knows....pretty though and zipped around pretty speedily.

Six this morning and it was on the cards that it was going to be another warm one with amber warnings out to stay at home....I was out on the terrace with my coffee, got my new Lenovo tablet out to check out who won the dessert course on the latest Wimbledon celebratory menu since I fell asleep watching it last night. The one that I wanted to win it...the contestant with the Turkish heritage came first and I missed it....ah well and tonight it is the banquet so I shall be watching it ...unless I fall asleep again....

Funny one this morning...I had run out of eggs so I got the Beast out and went chasing the bread van. I got to the centre of the village and he was coming towards me so I turned round and followed him back to my starting point. He was a little confused and I became first in the queue, ordered up my eggs, bread and cheesy bread and headed home leaving the Beast out in the lane. I think it was much to the chagrin of my neighbours who had insisted on parking the car half way along my wall...I didn't block them in but they weren't very pleased about it. they left in both cars so I moved my car further back since I was expecting a visitor and there were yet more mumbling....Guest arrived...we set off in convoy down the back lane and headed off to a shop that he wanted to visit and then off to the restaurant that he hadn't been to before.

Brilliant lunch as per usual...grilled liver, chicken in cornflakes, salad and cheesy chips with mineral waters and he was on his way to Sofia by two thirty. We headed to Kaufland for top-ups, Lidl and the intention was to stop off to a swim but the pools on the way back looked to be heaving. Out on the terrace in the shade reading my book, my guest took to his bed for a sleep and at least it's cooling off. Cold chicken for supper left over from last night....easy pickings tonight.

Looks like it's going to be a corker again tomorrow...need to find a pool. LN..Kitchen calls....LN